Shannon Harris Makes History as First HBCU Alum to Lead Pro Football Team to Championship
Shannon Harris made history as the DC Defenders triumphed over the Michigan Panthers in the 2025 UFL Championship. The victory marked Harris as the first alumnus from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to coach a professional football team to a league championship title.
On Saturday night, the Defenders powered past the Michigan Panthers with a dominant 58-34 win in the UFL Championship Game held at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, named UFL Championship Game MVP, had a stellar performance, completing 21 of 28 passes for 390 yards and four touchdowns, adding seven rushes for 29 yards and one rushing touchdown. Chris Rowland, another Tennessee State alum and Defenders wide receiver, contributed five catches for 45 yards and three rushes for 24 yards.
Earlier in the week, Harris was honored as the 2025 UFL Buddy Teevens Coach of the Year. His journey is remarkable, taking over as interim head coach after Reggie Barlow left the role to coach the Tennessee State Tigers.
“To God be the glory,” Harris said after the game. “This team, this coaching staff, the support staff—we’ve been in sync from day one. We’ve been all about ‘we, us, and ours.’ The effort and resilience from these guys have been amazing. We wanted to do it for our great fans back in D.C. and for God.”
Harris, a former quarterback for Tennessee State University (TSU) in the early 2000s, has deep roots in the HBCU community. Ironically, one of his best performances in college came when he faced Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Harris outshined Romo in that matchup, completing 29 of 43 passes for 382 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception.
Under Harris’s leadership, the DC Defenders were a formidable force, especially against a heavily favored Michigan Panthers team. Harris’ coaching journey included leading the team to an 18-11 home win against the defending UFL Champion Birmingham Stallions in the season opener. The Defenders’ defensive line had a franchise-record eight sacks in that game.
Harris also guided the team to a strong 4-1 start, with victories over the Memphis Showboats, St. Louis Battlehawks, and Arlington Renegades. By Week Eight, the Defenders secured a playoff spot with a 33-30 win over Arlington. Harris helped quarterback Jordan Ta’amu have an outstanding season, with Ta’amu finishing as a finalist for UFL MVP after leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. Under Harris, the Defenders had the league’s top-ranked offense.
On defense, the team also ranked among the best in the league, leading in tackles for loss, takeaways, and sacks.
While Harris stepped into the head coach position as an interim, his leadership style quickly left a lasting mark on the team, which adopted his aggressive and passionate approach.
As the first HBCU alum to coach a professional football team to a championship, Harris’s achievement has solidified his place in history, making his alma mater, Tennessee State, and the entire HBCU community immensely proud.
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